Toronto Guides: | History | Restaurants & Cafés | Hotels |
| Night Spots | Walking Tour | Transportation | Info & Listings |

Toronto: Information

      The excellent Ontario Tourism Travel Information Centre (Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 9.30am-7pm & Sun noon-5pm; tel 1-800-ONTARIO, within Toronto tel 416-314-0944, www.ontariotravel.net), on Level 1 of the Eaton shopping centre at Yonge and Dundas, stocks a comprehensive range of information on all the major attractions in Toronto and throughout Ontario. Of particular interest are the free city maps, the Ride Guide to the city's transport system, and accommodation and entertainment details in the monthly magazine Where. They will also book hotel accommodation on your behalf both in Toronto and across all of Ontario.

Alternatively, the Info T.O. visitor information centre (daily: May-Sept 8am-8pm, Oct-April 9am-5pm) is located in the city's Convention Centre at 255 Front St W, a couple of minutes' walk west from Union Station. Privately run, they are more geared up for selling tour tickets than providing information, though they do have a reasonable supply of free literature on the city and its environs. They are not, however, nearly as well organized as the Ontario Tourism Centre. Finally, Tourism Toronto , the city's official visitor and convention bureau, operates a telephone information line that can handle most city queries and will make hotel reservations. Phone hours are Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; tel 416-203-2500 or 1-800-363-1990.

Art Gallery of Ontario 317 Dundas St. West, Toronto (3 blocks west of St. Patrick subway on the University line.) (416) 979-6668 www.ago.net	Toronto Star Canada's #1 newspaper. www.TheStar.com Slate Art Guide Toronto art gallery listings, including: exhibitions, showings, locations, hours, artists, etc. Info-line: 1-800-871-8093 www.SlateArtGuide.com
Toronto.com Movie / Theater Listings, Weather, Special Events, etc. www.Toronto.com	Toronto Tourism Places to stay, things to do, value packages, dining, etc. www.TorontoTourism.com

Toronto: Listings

Airlines Air Canada (tel 416-925-2311). Air Ontario (tel 416-925-2311) has regular, bargain deals from Toronto City Centre Airport to London, Montréal and Ottawa; it also operates flights to more obscure destinations within Ontario; for flights to the States try American Airlines (tel 1-800-433-7300) and USAir (tel 1-800-428-4322).

Airport enquiries Pearson International (tel 416-247-7678); Toronto City Centre (tel 416-203-6942).

Algonquin Park Call of the Wild, 23 Edward St, Markham, ON (tel 905-471-9453 or 1-800-776-9453, fax 905-472-9453, www.callofthewild.ca) run three-day ($390) and five-day ($580) personalized and relaxed adventure canoe trips in Algonquin. Price includes all meals, permits, equipment and transport from Toronto. It's essential to book in advance.

Bike Rental Cyclepath, 2106 Yonge St (tel 416-487-1717), and Wheel Excitement Inc, south of the SkyDome at 5 Rees St (tel 416-260-9000), who also hire out rollerblades.

Bookshops The World's Biggest Bookshop, 20 Edward St, near Yonge and Dundas (tel 416-977-7009), is a huge warehouse-like affair with a vast selection of titles. For travel books, try Open Air Books and Maps, downtown at 25 Toronto St (tel 416-363-0719), or Ulysses Travel Bookshop, 101 Yorkville (tel 416-323-3609). Indigo have several branches, including one in the Eaton Centre (tel 416-591-3622).

Bus Information General, automated bus information line (tel 416-393-7911). Individual companies: PMCL (tel 416-695-1867) for Midland, Penetang and Owen Sound; Trentway-Wagar (tel 416-961-9666) for Niagara Falls, Kitchener, US destinations and Montréal; Greyhound (tel 416-367-8747, www.greyhound.ca ) for long-distance buses - Montreal, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie, Winnipeg and points west. Toronto Transit Commission (daily 8am-5pm; tel 416393-INFO).

Camping Equipment Mountain Equipment Co-op, 400 King St W (tel 416-340-2667); Trail Head, 61 Front St East (tel 416-862-0881).

Car Rental Budget, 1319 Bay at Davenport (tel 416-961-3932) and at the airport (tel 416-676-0522); Discount, 730 Yonge St at Bloor (tel 416-921-1212) and 132 Front St E at Jarvis (tel 416-864-0550); Hertz, 128 Richmond St East (tel 416-363-9022) and at the airport (tel 416-674-2020); National, beside Union Station (tel 416-364-4191) and at the airport (tel 416-676-4000).

Consulates Australia, 175 Bloor St E (tel 416-323-1155); Belgium, 2 Bloor St W (tel 416-944-1422); Netherlands, Suite 2106, 1 Dundas St W (tel 416-598-2520); Norway, 175 Bloor St E (tel 416-920-5529); Sweden, 2 Bloor St W (tel 416-963-8768); UK, 777 Bay St (tel 416-593-1267); US, 360 University Ave (tel 416-595-1700).

Emergencies Assaulted Women's Helpline and Rape Crisis (tel 416-597-8808). Police, ambulance, fire tel 911.

Hospital Toronto Hospital, 200 Elizabeth St (main switchboard tel 416-340-3111; 24hr emergency line tel 416-340-3946).

Internet Libraries provide Internet access and so do most of the better hotels. One good outlet is the Cyberland Café , 257 Yonge St, opposite the Eaton Centre (tel 416-955-9628, www.cyberlandcafe.com ; Sun & Mon 10.30am-11pm, Tues-Thurs 10.30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 10.30am-1am).

Laundry Dundas Cleaners & Laundry, 345 Dundas St E (tel 416-363-3873). The Lounge Laundry, 531 Yonge St, south of Wellesley (tel 416-975-4747).

Lost Property GO Transit (tel 416-869-3200); TTC, Bay subway (tel 416-393-4100); VIA Rail (tel 416-366-8411).

Maps The Toronto maps we have provided should be all you'll need for central Toronto, but if you need something covering the whole of the city, you'll find other maps at most bookshops and newsstands. MapArt is the best manufacturer: their comprehensive Toronto Pocket Street Atlas costs $7.95, and their large-scale general Toronto map is $2.95. They also publish an excellent Ontario Road Atlas book for $19.95.

Newspapers Toronto has three first-rate newspapers, the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail and the National Post, which is sold all over Canada.

Pharmacies There are Shoppers Drug Marts all over town; for the nearest location and late-night opening, call the company's information line on tel 1-800-363-1020.

Post Offices Postal facilities at most Shoppers Drug Marts with downtown locations including 360 Bloor St W at Spadina; 69 Yonge at King; Royal Bank Plaza, 200 Bay at Front.

Rail GO Transit (tel 416-869-3200); VIA Rail enquiries (tel 416-366-8411); Toronto Transit Commission (daily 8am-5pm; tel 416-393-INFO).

Sports The Toronto Maple Leafs, of the National Hockey League, play home fixtures in the Air Canada Centre, behind Union Station (tel 416-872-5000). The Blue Jays, of the American Baseball League, play in the SkyDome (tel 416-341-1234); the Argonauts, of the Canadian Football League, also play in the Air Canada Centre (tel 416-341-5151).

Taxis cruise the city in abundance and can be hailed from any street corner. Fares are generally reasonable based on a fixed tariff of $2.50 for the first .235km and 25¢ for every .235km thereafter. Thus, the fare from the airport to downtown will set you back about $40, and a ride from Union Station to the far side of Cabbagetown should cost around $10. Of the multitude of cab companies to choose from, the most reliable tend to be Co-op Cabs (tel 416-504-2667) or Diamond Taxicab (tel 416-366-6868).

Weather Local weather hotline tel 416-292-1010, then 3180.

Winter Sports Ring Metro Parks (tel 416-392-1111) for information on outdoor rinks and cross-country ski routes. Ski hire available at Trail Head, 61 Front St E (tel 416-862-0881).